MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Thailand (the case of Andy Hall)
4.10.2016 - (2016/2912(RSP))
pursuant to Rule 135 of the Rules of Procedure
Ignazio Corrao, Fabio Massimo Castaldo, Marco Zanni, Rolandas Paksas, Isabella Adinolfi on behalf of the EFDD Group
See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B8-1068/2016
The European Parliament,
– having regard to its previous resolutions on Thailand,
– having regard to the last statement of the EEAS (8 August 2016), where “the EU continues to call upon the Thai authorities to create the conditions for a genuine democratic transition leading to early general elections. All main stakeholders in Thailand need to engage in an inclusive dialogue and work together peacefully towards this aim”,
– having regard to the wide support and respect for the activities of Andy Hall, as recognized by many important human rights organizations and NGOs,
– having regard to the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders of 1998,
– having regard to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Human Rights Declaration,
– having regard to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 10 December 1948,
– having regard to Rule 135 of its Rules of Procedure,
A. Whereas Thailand, since the coup d'etat of 2014, is under the tight control of a military regime,
B. Whereas the military Junta does not foresee a full transition to a civilian government, as also underlined by the last reform of the Thai Constitution,
C. Whereas the Government is still using arbitrary arrests and intimidation as an instrument to control the population and to gag the opposition and the dissidents, including human rights activists,
D. Whereas freedom of expression, the right of peaceful assembly and the possibility to criticize the military junta are very limited if not forbidden,
E. Whereas, as declared by the Foreign Affairs Council meeting (Luxembourg, 23 June 2014) “the European Union and Thailand are bound together by strong and longstanding ties, ranging from trade, tourism, investments and culture, to people to people contacts”,
F. Whereas Andy Hall, a British citizen, a human rights defender and a migrant worker specialist, has been sentenced in Thailand,
G. Whereas Human Rights Watch in his research has found that “human rights and labor rights of migrant workers in Thailand from Burma, Cambodia, and Laos have been regularly violated with impunity over the years” and that “migrant workers frequently receive little or no protection from Thai labor laws despite government assertions that all legally registered migrant workers will be protected under those laws”,
H. Whereas since the military take-over in Thailand in May 2014 no further FTA rounds have been scheduled,
I. Whereas Andy Hall is well known in Thailand, where he has always fought for workers’ rights (especially migrant workers’ rights),
L. Whereas the newly adopted Constitution has raised many questions about the role of the military in Thai politics,
M. Whereas “the UN Human Rights Office for South-East Asia (OHCHR) is concerned by the Bangkok Criminal Court’s decision on Tuesday to sentence labour rights activist Mr. Andy Hall to three years imprisonment, suspended for two years”
1. Expresses concern for the current situation in Thailand, its military regime and the suspension of democracy;
2. Calls on Thai military to open as soon as possible the political transition of powers from military to civilian authorities, avoiding further direct military influence on the government;
3. Calls on the Government of Thailand to immediately release Andy Hall from any form of charge and of possible imprisonment;
4. Calls on the Government of Thailand to immediately suspend any kind of measure, initiative or actions which can limit or hamper freedom of expression and other political rights of Thai citizens and activists, especially in the field of human and labor rights;
5. Calls on the Thailand Authorities to adopt and implement specific policies and actions to eliminate the exploitation of migrant workers, also in cooperation with international organizations like the ILO;
6. Calls for a wider involvement of Thai civil society organizations, trade unions and NGOs in the transition from a military regime to a full democracy, especially in the field of labor and social rights, for both citizen and migrant workers;
7. Expresses its concern for the last constitutional developments in Thailand, which can prolong the undemocratic military rule in the country and can prevent a quick return to a civilian government;
8. Calls on the EEAS to cooperate with the British Authorities in order to monitor the conditions of Andy Hall;
9. Calls on the EEAS to monitor the situation of human rights, social and labor rights and political freedom in Thailand;
10. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the Governments and Parliaments of the Member States, the Government and the Government and Parliament of Thailand.